Improvement in corn-markers



J. B. THOMAS.

Land Marker.

Patented July 26, 1870.

JESSE B. THOMAS, OF GNTBEVILLE, INDIANA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORN-MARKERS.

l Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 105,865, dated July26, 1870.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jnssn B. THOMAS, of Centreville, in the county ofWayne and State of Indiana, have invented certain Improvements inCorn-Row Markers and I do hereby declare that the following is afull,clear, and

exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawing,making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a plan or topview of my improved marker, showin g the wheels, the framework, thedrivers seat, the guide-arm, and the tongue and whifletree. Fig. 2 is abot# toni view, showing the i shovels or markers and their arrangementupon the frame of the machine. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional elevaition on line a .r of Fig. 1, showing the method i upon which thecarriage is mounted. These wheels may be of any form of construction,and of such a diameter as to leave room to operate the shovelsunderneath the frame of the machine.

The axle of the machine, in the example shown, consists of arms A A',bolted to the end pieces of the frame; but, if preferred, it

may consistof an axle extending across the machine, and secured to theframe thereof.

B B refer to the frame-work, which is rectangular in form, and consistsof two end pieces, to which the axles or arms on which the wheels rotateare secured, and two or more longitudinal beams, to one of which theshovels or markers are attached.

Bl refers to a bar which extends across the machine, or from inside toinside of the end beams of the frame B, it being hinged to said beams insuch a manner that it may be turned up into the position shown in Fig. 3when the shovels or markers are not in use, and down into the positionshown in Fig. 4 when in operation. B2 refers to the seat upon which theoperator sits when the machine is being. moved, and B3 to thepole ortongue'to which the horses are hitched, it being provided with awhiftletree for that purpose.

C C refer to rods, which are :hinged to the front beam of the frame, andconstitute the draw-bars for the shovels or markers. There -are three ofthese rods or draw-bars, one at or near each end of the frame and-theother midway between them.

D D refer to arms or levers, which are hinged vto the outer ends of thedraw-bars C, they being bent at a right angle, or nearly so, and havingtheir upper and shorter arm bifurcated to receive the outer end of saiddraw bar or rod, while their lower and larger arm extends downward at anangle, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and carries the shovels or markers D1.

Beyond or above the point where these arms are pivoted to the draw barsor rods there is formed a hole, which is to be lled with a wooden pin,which, when the machineis in use, rests upon the upper surface of thedraw bar or rod, so that, in the event of the marker or shovel upon thelower end of the arm coming in contact with any obstruction, said woodenpin will break and allow the arm to swing backward and" pass suchobstruction without breaking any other part of the machine, the breakingof said pin being facilitated by the fact that the long arm of the baris the one which encounters the resistance, and consequently a longleverage is given with which to break the pin.

D3 refers to a chain, which is attached to the swinging beam B1 and tothe arm D, in such a manner that as the beam is turned upward theshovels will be raised, as above described.

E refers to an arm, which is pivoted to the center ot that portion ofthe frame which is forward of the wheels, from which pointit extendsoutward beyond the machine, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, for a distancesufcient to enable the marker upon its outer end to make a smallguide-mark in the earth so that, by causing the center marker or shovelto follow said mark upon its return trip, the rows will be all parallelwith each other, and at equal distances apart. It will be perceived thatin consequence of this'lever being hinged in the center of the machineit may be swung or turned upon its pivoted point, and thus be used uponeither side of the machine or upon each side alternately.

E1 refers to a link, which is hinged to the outer end of the arm E, andcarries upon its lower end a shovel or marker, E2, so arranged as torest lightly'upon the ground, in order that it may make a guide-mark forthe center shovel to follow upon the return trip of the machine, asabove described.

To prevent the liability of being broken, the outer marker is hinged tothe arm in such a nia-nner that it has two motions with referencethereto, one in line with the arm and one at right angles thereto, sothat, in the event of its coming in contact with any obstruction, it maymove both horizontally and vertically, and thus pass over or at the sideof such obstruction.

E3 E3 refer to dogs or keepers, which are bolted tothe end pieces of theframe B, from which they are made to rise in a vertical di! rection fora distance sufficient to permit their horizontal portion to pass overthe arm E when it is in position, and thus hold it in such position,their vertical portions forming an abutment for said arm to restagainst, and by which its outer end is kept from being carried too fartoward the rear end of the machine.

When it is desirable to move the machine from one place to another, andnot have the marker E2 touch the ground, the arm is raised up, and thedog or keeper E3 is turned into the same position shown in Fig. l, or aswhen holding the arm in position for use, and the arm is allowed to restupon the upper surface of said keeper, which will cause its outer end tobe so much elevated as to keep it free from the earth.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

l. The combination ofthe rod or bar C, the arm or lever D, and shovel ormarker D, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The swin ging arni E, in combination with the frame of the machine,when its outer end is provided with a marker which is capable of movingin both a horizontal and a Vertical direction, so as to passobstructions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed myname to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JESSE B. THOMAS.

Witnesses J'. R. WHITAGRE, WILLIAM I-I. LYNDE.

